Things to Know about Me.

So on Facebook everyone is filling out these 25 random facts about themselves. I got sucked in...
here they are.

1. My real name is Shelby. Ive never gone by that name, always Ruthie.
2. I played with Barbies until I was the 6th grade, and after that I still secretly wanted to.
3. I will always have a special place in my heart for Killer Whales, ever since I saw Free
Willy. I want to save the whales. Sometimes I watch Shamu swim in his
tank online. http://seaworld.com/sitepage.aspx?PageID=375
4. I love my job. I wake up everyday excited to go to it.
5. My best friend Kate and I have the same exact job. But she lives in Texas.
6. I live in my Boss’s basement.
7. I talk to my sisters and brother every day. I would rather hang out with them than anyone
else.
8. When we were growing up, we used to have to pretend the president was eating dinner
with us because we had such bad table manners. My dad thought having him “there”
would make us more polite.
9. My favorite show is “The Biggest Loser”. I am friends with some of the past contestants
on facebook, and it makes me sort of giddy.
10. I can’t dive or do a cartwheel. Neither could my mom. And neither can my sister Bekah. I
think it is genetic.
11. I love Valentines day. It is my favorite holiday. My friend Kristi and I used to send
eachother “secret admirer” flowers and teddy bears in class on Valentines Day, so people
would think boys liked us. We did it all through High School… no one caught on, it worked.
12. I became a Christian because my sister told me that I was going to Hell. And the rest of the
family would be in heaven. Thanks Bek.
13. My favorite food is Mexican. My family eats it all the time.
14. I like to sit through all the credits after watching a movie in the theatre.
15. I never knew I could love someone so much, until I met my sweet little baby niece, Kate.
16. I don’t like seafood. Maybe it has to do with my love for whales
17. I get lots of freckles during the summer time.
18. My mom used to keep me home from school all the time. She would think of any excuse for
me to stay home with her. I am the baby
19. I am not good at sports, even though I really wish I was sporty spice.
20. I had the Shingles in Highschool. You usually get it from stress, and usually only older
people get it... well I got it and my brother told everyone I had herpes. Thanks Teebs
21. I waited to get braces till I was a senior in highschool. I was the only freshman in college
with a metal mouth.
22. I cried everyday for 2 months when I went to college. But I am glad I so glad I did cause I
met some really amazing friends. Bethany, Kate, Care, Matt, James, and Ash are some of
my favorites.
23. I am not a good cook. I burn almost everything.
24. I love the beach.
25. When I am having a bad day, I go get a Coke and it makes things so much better.

The greatest thing in all the world, is just to love... and to be loved in return

We all wanna be loved.

I have been learning this more in my life by working with highschool girls. So many of them would give ANYTHING to just have a boyfriend. They want to feel loved. They want to be liked. They want someone to think they are pretty, and fun, and cute. Who doesnt?
In ninth grade I liked the CUTEST boy in school, Jordan Hill. He was a hunk. I did so many things to try and get his attention. When I got dressed in the morning, I was trying to look cute for him. I would position myself in the part of the school that i knew he would be. (Stalker?) haha. I remember the day I found out he liked me back... what a day. You couldn't wipe the smile off my face. What a feeling to be liked. At that point in my life, I thought that was all that mattered. I had achieved it! I spent all my time and energy thinking about him, talking to him on the phone, writing him letters, talking to all my friends about him... he consumed my thoughts! A boy!
So many times though, that love doesn't last. It is fun for a while. But I have learned in my life, that no love is better than that of Christ's. Not trying to get all spiritual, but it is so true. He loves me on my ugliest day! He knows the dumb things I do, and never leaves me! He is eagerly waiting for me to come talk to him. He pursues me. His love for me is incomparable. I can't even grasp it, or understand it.
Don't get me wrong, I am so excited about being married someday, and loving someone. But I don't want that to be my main goal in life. I don't want to get my worth out of a man loving me. I want to always live in the love of Christ, knowing that nothing is greater.
So for every girl getting discouraged, let us live in HOPE! Knowing that the Lord is GOOD. He has the best plan for us. So if right now, there is no guy telling you how great you are... know that there is someone that loves you more than any dude ever could :) You are the APPLE OF HIS EYE.
Respect yourself. Know you who are in Christ, and don't look to a boy for your self worth. You deserve more for your life. Wait for the best, Don't settle for just the first boy that pays you attention. And in the mean time... Realize that no love is better than God's.

O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:1

By the way... Jordan Hill and I didn't work out :)

1 year baby

This week marks the 1 year anniversary of my interview to come work at Southside!

The people I get to work with :)


A few months before my interview, I had been praying that the Lord would make it known what he wanted for my life. I was working a job that I didnt love, and I just felt like there was more that I could be doing. I prayed alot, and I felt like nothing was happening. I felt like I was stuck. Like maybe the Lord had forgotten about little ole me. Maybe He had more important things to take care of. But little did I know, he was just getting my heart ready for my next big adventure.

I had met Chris Armfield once at a party, but really didn't know him at all. I knew he was the Directional leader of the youth ministry, and that he had a really pretty wife... but that was about all I knew. He didn't really know much about me either, but for some crazy reason, God kept putting my name in his head, and he had been praying about me for months! WHAT?! God is SO BIG.
So they ask me to come in for an interview and the rest is history! It just goes to show you how timely God is. He knows what he is doing! Why do we question that?

I truly love what I do. It isn't always easy, but these girls I get to work with don't even know how treasured they are. I want them to get that. They are beautiful, sweet, fun, incredible young ladies. These girls have real hurts. Real things going on in their lives, that some of us never dream of. I can't wait to see who they become someday.
here are some pictures from my last year :)

:)